2018 NFL Draft: UCF’s Shaquem Griffin invited to combine

UCF linebacker Shaquem Griffin, the one-handed tackling machine for the Golden Knights, announced on his twitter on Tuesday he has received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I want to let you all know I got invited to the NFL Combine,” Griffin said. “Thank you for all your support. The entire nation was behind me and I couldn’t do it without you. Something special is coming soon and you’re going to see it. They invited the right one to the NFL Combine and I’m going to show you. I’ve got a lot to prove. Against all odds.”

Griffin is fresh off a week in which he impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl, earning practice player of the week before recording four tackles in the game. Griffin is a two-time All-AAC selection and was the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He recorded 166 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles over his junior and senior seasons.

Throughout the years, there have been a ton of stories that could easily be made into movie scripts. Players in the NFL have gone through some extraordinary things to get to where they are. The story of Shaquem Griffin could be the next story everyone has their sights set on as he comes out of college.

Born with a birth defect, UCF’s Shaquem Griffin had his hand amputated at the age of four. While many people would consider this as a vulnerability, Griffin was not easily deterred. Competing in all types of sports, not just football, Griffin proved to many that his passion for football would not be hindered by a physical disability. In 2012, Shaquem committed to UCF, where he would go on to play for the Knights for four years.